HSDPA CQI, ACK, NACK power offset known in node B and in SRNC

ABSTRACT

High speed data packet access (HSDPA) is facilitated by ensuring that power offsets are delivered to the base station (Node B) so that the new functions envisioned therefor having to do with scheduling and retransmission handling can be carried out effectively. A signal primitive having one or more information elements indicative of corresponding power offsets are received by the Node B, saved for future use and then signalled back to the serving radio network controller so that the user equipment can be informed with a proper RRC message containing the appropriate power offsets.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/379,917, filed May 9, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As an enhancement to the release99/release4 (rel99/rel4) downlink shared channel (DSCH) concept in the third generation partnership project (3GPP) shown in FIG. 1( a) it has been agreed to add a so-called High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) concept as a part of the 3GPP rel5 universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) architecture as shown in FIG. 1( b). In FIG. 1( a) the DSCH is transmitted on a downlink Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) 10. In principle, the new HSDPA concept of FIG. 1( b) is an enhancement, because the leading idea in 3GPP has been to make HSDPA as an evolution from the shared channel concept not as a revolution. Therefore the defined solutions should resemble as much as possible the solutions which have already been defined for the shared channels. The basic idea behind the HSDPA is to offer a shared high speed channel with a higher data rate and a quick retransmission mechanism (i.e. with HARQ (=Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request)) from Node B. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 1( b) to FIG. 1( a), the Node B is given more intelligence for the purpose of handling retransmissions and scheduling functions, thus reducing the round trip delay between the mobile device and the RNC formerly handling retransmissions in FIG. 1( a). This makes retransmission combining feasible in the mobile device. In place of the variable spreading factor and fast power control used for the DSCH of FIG. 1( a), the HS-DSCH of FIG. 1( b) uses adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) in addition to the HARQ. A much smaller transmission time interval (TTI) of two milliseconds is also used instead of the 10 or 20 milliseconds of the DSCH. Also, the media access control (MAC) is located in the node B instead of the RNC. The AMC part of HSDPA utilizes adaptation of code rate, the modulation scheme, the number of multi-codes employed, as well as the transmit power per code. Even though many parameters are defined in the Radio Network Subsystem Application Part (RNSAP; see 3GPP TS25.423 v5.0.0) and Node B Application Part (NBAP; see 3GPP TS25.433 v5.0.0) to support HSDPA, the HSDPA discussion is on-going in 3GPP and many useful parameters are being added.

The user equipment is able to send a channel quality indicator (CQI) on the uplink HS-DPCCH (high speed dedicated physical control channel). It indicates the selected transport format resource combination (TFRC) and multi-code number currently supported by the UE.

FIG. 1( c) shows further details of the proposed UTRAN side overall MAC architecture including the new MAC-hs. MAC-hs provides the essential functionalities to support HSDPA. MAC-hs has the scheduling function as well as HARQ.

FIG. 2 shows a radio protocol architecture for HSDPA taken from FIG. 5.1-1 of 3GPP TS 25.308 v5.2.0 (2002-03). According to that specification, the new functionalities of hybrid ARQ and HSDPA scheduling are included in the MAC layer. In the UTRAN these functions are included in a new entity called MAC-hs located as shown in the Node B in FIG. 2. The transport channel that the HSDPA functionality will use is called HS-DSCH (High Speed Downlink Shared Channel) and is controlled by the MAC-hs. The MAC protocol configuration shown is one of two possible configurations on the UTRAN side presented in the aforementioned specification. The illustrated configuration is provided with MAC-c/sh. In this case, the MAC-hs in Node B is located below MAC-c/sh in the RNC. MAC-c/sh provides functions to HSDPA already included for DSCH in the Release '99. The HS-DSCH FP (frame protocol) will handle the data transport from SRNC to CRNC (if the Iur interface is involved) and between CRNC and the Node B. Another configuration without MAC-c/sh is possible. In that case (see FIG. 5.1-2 of the aforementioned specification, the CRNC does not have any user plane function for the HS-DSCH. MAC-d in SRNC is located directly above MAC-hs in Node B, i.e. in the HS-DSCH user plane the SRNC is directly connected to the Node B, thus bypassing the CRNC. Both configurations are transparent to both the UB and Node B. FIG. 2 hereof shows the respective radio interface protocol architecture with termination points. The same architecture supports both FDD and TDD modes of operation, though some details of the associated signalling for HS-DSCH are different.

FIG. 3 (see FIG. 6.2.2-1 of 3GPP TS 25.308 v5.2.0) shows UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-c/sh details. The data for the HS-DSCH is subject to flow control between the serving and the drift RNC. A new flow control function is included to support the data transfer between MAC-d and MAC-hs.

FIG. 4 shows UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-hs details (see FIG. 6.2.3-1 of 3GPP TS 25.308 v5.2.0). According to section 6.2.3 of the aforementioned specification, the MAC-hs is responsible for handling the data transmitted on the HS-DSCH. Furthermore it is its responsibility to manage the physical resources allocated to HSDPA. MAC-hs receives configuration parameters from the RRC layer via the MAC-Control SAP. There shall be priority handling per MAC-d PDU in the MAC-hs. The MAC-hs is comprised of four different functional entities:

Flow Control:

This is the companion flow control function to the flow control function in the MAC-c/sh in case of Configuration with MAC-c/sh and MAC-d in case of Configuration without MAC-c/sh. Both entities together provide a controlled data flow between the MAC-c/sh and the MAC-hs (Configuration with MAC-c/sh) or the MAC-d and MAC-hs (Configuration without MAC-c/sh) taking the transmission capabilities of the air interface into account in a dynamic manner. This function is intended to limit layer 2 signalling latency and reduce discarded and retransmitted data as a result of HS-DSCH congestion. Flow control is provided independently by priority class for each MAC-d flow.

Scheduling/Priority Handling:

This function manages HS-DSCH resources between HARQ entities and data flows according to their priority class. Based on status reports from associated uplink signalling either new transmission or retransmission is determined. Further it sets the priority class identifier and TSN for each new data block being serviced. To maintain proper transmission priority a new transmission can be initiated on a HARQ process at any time. The TSN is unique to each priority class within a HS-DSCH, and is incremented for each new data block. It is not permitted to schedule new transmissions, including retransmissions originating in the RLC layer, within the same TTI, along with retransmissions originating from the HARQ layer.

HARQ:

One HARQ entity handles the hybrid ARQ functionality for one user. One HARQ entity is capable of supporting multiple instances (I-JARQ process) of stop and wait HARQ protocols. There shall be one HARQ process per TTI.

TFC selection:

Selection of an appropriate transport format and resource combination for the data to be transmitted on HS-DSCH.

Currently in 3GPP, the SRNC is supposed to send the CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset to the UE via RRC layer messages. The Power Offsets will be defined as relative to the DPCCH pilot bit. Then the UE will use these Power Offsets as follows:

When an uplink HS-DPCCH is active, the relative power offset _(HS-DPCCH) between the DPCCH and the HS-DPCCH for each HS-DPCCH slot shall be set as follows: For HS-DPCCH slots carrying HARQ Acknowledgement:

-   Δ_(HS-DPCCH)=Δ_(ACK) if the corresponding HARQ Acknowledgement is     equal to 1 -   Δ_(HS-DPCCH)=Δ_(NACK) if the corresponding HARQ Acknowledgement is     equal to 0     For HS-DPCCH slots carrying CQI: -   Δ_(HS-DPCCH)=Δ_(CQI)     The values for Δ_(ACK), Δ_(NACK) and Δ_(CQI) are set by higher     layers (RRC message). The quantization of the power offset can be     found in 3GPP TS 25.213 at Table 1A for instance.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

But in the current 3GPP specification, there is no means to deliver these Power Offsets to Node B. Referring to FIGS. 1( c) and FIG. 2, the prior art Node B of FIG. 1( a) did not have the MAC-hs or complementary HS-DSCH FP layers. If Node B were to know the CQI Power offset, which is an object of the present invention, the Node B receiver could utilize this value for scaling the CQI signal. Scaling the CQI signal is related to the signal level setting, and is used typically in a digital base band implementation, to avoid overflow (i.e. signalling saturation) or underflow (i.e. quantization noise). In ASIC and DSP SW implementations, word length constraints are applied and signals must be scaled accordingly to match with the processing word lengths. If the power offsets for multiple signals are not known by the Node B, as is the case now, signal levels would have to be detected or alternatively in a worst case the Node B receiver would have to be made available for a possible maximum range of each signal. Especially in this case, both fading on the radio path and adaptation POs extend the required range. Signaling to Node B removes the later proportion for the required range. Therefore, if Node B knows the CQI Power Offset then it simplifies receiver implementation (i.e. when measuring DPCCH power level, CQI power level can be calculated and Node B can adjust gains in the different parts of receiver in a simple manner).

If Node B knows the ACK Power Offset and the NACK Power Offset, Node B can utilize these values to detect the ACK/NACK signal. For the ACK and NACK detection, the Node B receiver must also detect the 3^(rd) state, DTX (no signal). This requires setting signal detection thresholds. This detection will be more accurate when it is set based on signaled POs than when it is set based on measured offsets.

Since ACK/NACK is a level based detection, if Node B already knows the POs of ACK/NACK, it can detect the signal easily.

If Node B knows the CQI Power Offset it can calculate the CQI power with DPCCH power, Node B doesn't need to measure the offset individually. It can make Node B receiver implementation easier.

If Power Offsets are not given by signalling, Node B is required to measure these Power Offsets individually. This is similar with beta parameters, which are given for DPCCH and for DPDCH, to indicate power offset between those two dedicated physical channels. Of course, in these schemes, the Node B receiver must still detect the DPCCH level, which is the reference for all the Power Offsets, but it doesn't need to detect other signal levels (CQI's, ACKs & NACKs) individually for all multiple signals and this reduces Node B work significantly.

Furthermore it is anticipated that giving Power Offsets to the Node B will make the standard further future-proof when supporting some interference cancelling methods.

Currently, no description can be found from 3GPP specifications or technical reports about this problem and how to solve it. Therefore, there is no prior art recognition of the problem and consequently no solution either. Without knowing the CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset, the Node B receiver has to search the signal for whole possible ranges.

This invention introduces CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset on RNSAP and NBAP signalling or HS-DSCH FP.

Since the object is for both the UE and Node B to know the same values, there are two possibilities during the RL setup phase:

-   (1) SRNC decides the Power Offsets and includes them in the RL SETUP     REQUEST message. SRNC also sends the same information to the UE with     a proper RRC message. -   (2) Node B decides the Power Offsets and includes them in the RL     SETUP RESPONSE message. And the SRNC sends the same Power Offsets to     the UE with the proper RRC message.     And, there are 3 possibilities to change the POs. -   1) SRNC decides to change the Power Offsets and include them in the     RL RECONFIGURATION PREPARE message. SRNC also sends the same     information to UE with proper RRC message. -   2) SRNC decides to change the Power Offsets and include them in the     RADIO INTERFACE PARAMETER UPDATE control frame (It should be noted     that the name of the control frame can be different than that). SRNC     also sends the same information to UE with proper RRC message. -   3) Node B decides to change the Power Offsets. In this case there is     no existing mechanism for Node B to initiate changing the Power     Offsets during the connection and there may be a need to define a     new procedure. Alternatively, it could be done in such a way that     the SRNC initiates Power Offsets change procedure (e.g. SHO case) by     sending an RL RECONFIGURATION PREPARE message with HO indication.     Then Node B decides new Power Offsets and sends them back in an RL     RECONFIGURATION READY message. SRNC also sends the same information     to UE with proper RRC message. The RL RECONFIGURATION PREPARE and RL     RECONFIGURATION message formats already exist and can be adapted to     the purposes of the invention.

Once Node B has the CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset, it will apply CQI Power Offset for CQI slot scaling and ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset for ACK and NACK slot detection.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: UTRAN side overall MAC architecture showing the defined HSDPA network architecture in 3GPP. The figure shows a new MAC-hs entity, which is connected, to the MAC-c/sh through lub-interface. The used transport channel under MAC-hs are HS-DSCH, which corresponds in rel99 shared channel concept DSCH transport channel.

FIG. 2: Radio Interface Protocol Architecture of HSDPA. The defined protocol stack defines the HS-DSCH FP protocol to provide the HSDPA FP data frames through lub-interface.

FIG. 3: UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-c/sh details.

FIG. 4: UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-hs details.

FIG. 5: In case SRNC sets CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—RL Setup Phase.

FIG. 6: In case Node B sets CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—RL Setup Phase.

FIG. 7 a: In case SRNC decides to change the values of CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—Using Control Plane protocol.

FIG. 7 b: In case SRNC decides to change the values of CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—Using User Plane protocol.

FIG. 8: In case SRNC decides to change the values of CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—Using User Plane protocol—Frame structure.

FIG. 9: In case Node B sets CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—RL Setup Phase.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Abbreviations

CRNC Control RNC (network element) DPCCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel DPCH Dedicated Physical Channel DPDCH Dedicated Physical Data Channel DSCH Downlink Shared Channel (transport channel) FDD Frequency Division Duplex (operation mode) FP Frame Protocol HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (function) HO Hand Over HS-DSCH High Speed - Dedicated Shared Channel (transport channel) HS-PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel HS-SCCH Shared Control Channel for HS-DSCH HS-SICH Shared Info Channel for HS-DSCH HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access (concept) MAC Medium Access Controller (protocol layer) MCS Modulation and Coding Scheme NBAP Node B Application Part PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel PO Power Offset RL Radio Link RLC Radio Link Control (protocol layer) RNC Radio Resource Controller (network element) RNSAP Radio Network Subsystem Application Part UE User Equipment (user device)

The power of the HS-DPCCH is set as a power offset (PO). These POs can be defined as POs of the DPCH. In detail, they can be defined as PO relative to DPCCH pilot field. In addition, to guarantee full cell-coverage a CQI repetition scheme can be used whereby periodic CQI's are sent in the uplink HS-DPCCH. Node B then sends user data on the HS-DSCH according to its own schedule to the users using time and/or code multiplexing to better utilize the available resources also considering UE capability. The Node B prenotifies the UEs of the transport format and resource combination (TFRC), the multi-code set, as well as the HARQ process control on the HS-SCCH two slots in advance of the HS-DSCH. After receiving the user data on HS-DSCH, the UE sends a CQI and/or ACK/NACK on the uplink HS-DPCCH as a feedback signal after a verification time of several slots. Considering the foregoing, especially the new HSDPA-RRM entities (HRQ, packet scheduling, link adaptation) in the Node B, it will be advantageous for the Node B to know the CQI power offset and the POs of ACK/NACK as givens determined either by itself or by the RNSAP/NBAP of the RNC.

As described in the FIGS. 5 and 6, during the RL Setup phase, there are 2 possibilities for accomplishing this end from the outset:

-   (1) SRNC decides CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO -   (2) Node B decides CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO

In the first case, since SRNC knows the SHO status of UE, based on the SHO situation it can decide the CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO. In this case SRNC will assign these POs in the RL Setup Request message during RL setup phase. SRNC will send the same values to UE using proper RRC message.

The signalling flow for this example is described in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, a serving radio network controller (S-RNC) 500 provides an RL SETUP REQUEST message as a signal on a line 502 from a radio network subsystem application part (RNSAP) 504 to an RNSAP 506 of a drift radio network controller (D-RNC) 508. The D-RNC 508 processes the RL SETUP REQUEST signal received on the line 502 and provides said RL SETUP REQUEST signal on a line 510 from a Node B application part (NBAP) 512 of the D-RNC 508 to an NBAP 514 of a Node B 516 under D-RNC 508. The RL SETUP REQUEST signal on the line 502 and on the line 510 may include one or more power offset information elements including a CQI PO, an ACK PO and a NACK PO. In that case, the Node B 516 saves the POs for future use as indicated in a step 518. The step 518 should therefore be viewed as also representative of a memory within said Node B. The NBAP of Node B 516 then sends an RL setup response message as a signal on a line 520 to the NBAP of the D-RNC 508. The D-RNC 508 then sends the RL setup response signal on a line 522 from its RNSAP to the RNSAP of the S-RNC 500. A radio resource control (RRC) 524 of the S-RNC 500 then informs a UE 526 with a proper RRC message signal on a line 528 which is received in the corresponding RRC 530 of the UE 526. The RRC message includes the CQI PO, the ACK PO and the NACK PO for use by the UE in sending CQI's, NACK's and ACK's on the HS-DPCCH uplink to the Node B. Since the Node B has saved the POs for future use, and it therefore already knows these POs, it can use them in interpreting the CQI, ACK and NACK information sent by the UE to the Node B without having to be in the dark, so to speak. As can be seen by the illustration of FIG. 1( b) as compared to that of FIG. 1( a), the process is made more efficient. It should be realized that a given S-RNC 500 may be in direct communication with an associated Node B, and therefore the steps shown in FIG. 5 could be carried out without using the D-RNC 508 as an intermediary. For the sake of completeness, however, FIG. 5 shows the possibility of using a D-RNC intermediate between the S-RNC and the Node B. Consequently, the RL setup request signal on the line 502 can be sent directly to the Node B 516 or via the D-RNC 508. Likewise, the signalling descriptions shown in FIGS. 6, 7A, 7B and 9 should also be understood in this way for signals both in the direction from the S-RNC toward the Node B and in the reverse direction.

In the second case, referring now to FIG. 6, since Node B knows HSDPA related resource status and can be considered to have better knowledge of HSDPA, it can decide the CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO. But in this case Node B doesn't know whether it is in an HO situation or not. Therefore the SRNC has to give the HO Indication. As described in FIG. 6, in an RL Setup Request message is sent by an S-RNC 600 by its RNSAP on a line 602 to an RNSAP 604 of a D-RNC 606 and includes an HO Indication. An NBAP 608 of the D-RNC 606 provides an RL SETUP REQUEST message as a signal with the HO indication on a line 610 to an NBAP 612 of a Node B 614 of the D-RNC 606. The Node B 614 then decides the POs based on the HO indication and its own measurements and consequent decisions and saves the POs for future use as indicated in a step 616. After that, the NBAP of the Node B 614 sends an RL setup response message as a signal with the decided PO information elements on a line 618 to the NBAP of the D-RNC 606. The RNSAP of the D-RNC 606 then sends the RL setup response message on a signal line 620 to the RNSAP of the S-RNC 600. An RRC 622 of the S-RNC 600 then informs a UE 624 by means of a proper RRC primitive message on a signal line 626 including the CQI, ACK and NACK PO information elements to an RRC 628 of the UE 624. The UE then uses the PO information in setting the powers of the various CQI, ACK or NACK slots of its HS-DPCCH.

And if SRNC is the node to change the Power Offset values then it can use the Synchronised RL Reconfiguration Procedure as described in FIG. 7 a to change the POs, once established. One example of this case can be the soft handover (SHO) situation. In an RL Reconfiguration Preparation message on a signal line 7 a 2, an RNSAP 7 a 4 of an SRNC 7 a 6 can include new CQI PO or/and ACK PO or/and NACK PO or/and and a Node B 7 a 8 shall apply these new values. And if Node B can use the values it will reply with an RL Reconfiguration Ready primitive message on a line 7 a 10 as a positive ACK. If Node B cannot use the values, then it will reply with RL Reconfiguration Failure message. In case of SRNC determination of Power Offsets, to change the POs, it is also possible to use a user plane Frame Protocol (FP) as described in FIG. 7 b. In this case, in the FP, a proper control frame should be defined or used. For instance like in the DCH FP, it is desirable to define a Radio Interface Parameter Update control frame and deliver these POs in this control frame as shown for instance on a line 7 b 10 from an HS-DSCH FP 7 b 12 of an S-RNC 7 b 14. An example of such a frame structure is depicted in FIG. 8. The name of the control frame or the order of the fields can of course be different than that shown in FIG. 8. The important point here is these Power Offsets can be delivered by a UP control frame. In FIG. 8, the flag points to whether the corresponding Power Offsets are valid data or not. In the example, Flag bit 1 indicates CQI PO, bit2 ACK PO and bit3 NACK PO. If the flag is 1 then the corresponding PO value is valid. Compared to using the control plane, using the user plane is a rather lighter solution. But in the case of using the user plane, the delivery cannot be guaranteed (No response message). Therefore repeatedly sending the same control frame multiple times can be an option. This can make Node B receive the POs with higher probability.

If Node B is the node to change these POs and Node B is the node to initiate a PO change procedure, a new message is needed to be defined from Node B to SRNC so that the new message can include new POs. After receiving new POs, SRNC will forward these new POs to the UE. But if Node B is the node to change these POs and SRNC is the node to initiate the PO change procedure (e.g. SRNC changes the POs during SHO), Synchronised RL Reconfiguration Procedure can be used as describe in FIG. 9. SRNC 900 sends the RL Reconfiguration Prepare message from an RNSAP 902 on a line 904 to an RNSAP 906 of a D-RNC 908 with HO Indicator, and then an NBAP 910 of a Node B 912 receives the HO indication on a line 914 from an NBAP 916 of the D-RNC 908 and decides 918 new POs and sends them back from the NBAP 910 to DRNC in an RL Reconfiguration Ready message 920. After receiving same from the D-RNC RNSAP, the SRNC forward those POs to the UE on a line 930 using a proper RRC message. And this whole procedure can be implemented in FP (Frame Protocol). I.e., SRNC can give the HO indication by control frame in FP and Node B will provide CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO in a control frame in FP. And also Node B can provide CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO with this control frame without SRNC's request.

When HSDPA is implemented CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset signalling will be implemented as defined in the specification. During HSDPA service, always UE and Node B shall have same Power Offset (CQI, ACK and NACK) values. Therefore whenever HSDPA is implemented, this feature should be implemented.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a best mode embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. Method, comprising: receiving by a base station of a radio access network a radio link setup request signal from a serving radio network controller, said signal having one or more information elements indicative of one or more corresponding power offsets, saving said one or more power offsets in said base station, sending from said base station a radio link setup response signal to said serving radio network controller with information elements indicating receipt of said one or more power offsets from said serving radio network controller, and sending a radio resource controller message signal from said serving radio network controller to user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements also sent to said base station for use by said user equipment in sending feedback information over a radio interface to said base station at power levels adjusted according to said one or more power offsets for detection at said base station according to said one or more power offsets received from said serving radio network controller and saved in said base station.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said radio link setup request signal includes a handover indication instead of said information elements and wherein said method further comprises said base station determining said one or more information elements and then carrying out said step of saving said one or more power offsets in said base station and sending from said base station a radio link setup response signal to said serving radio network controller indicating said one or more power offsets determined by said base station.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending from said serving radio network controller said radio link setup request signal to a drift radio network controller associated with said base station, and sending said radio link setup request signal from said drift radio network controller to said base station.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said radio resource controller message signal is sent from said serving radio network controller to said user equipment after receipt of said radio link setup response signal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said information elements include an information element indicative of power offset used in an uplink between a high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying hybrid automatic repeat request information and an associated dedicated physical control channel.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said information is hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledge information.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said information elements include an information element having a channel quality indicator indicative of power offset used in an uplink between an high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying channel quality information and said associated dedicated physical control channel.
 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving a radio link reconfiguration prepare message signal according to a control plane protocol from said serving radio network controller at said base station directly or via said drift radio network controller with changes to said one or more information elements, changing one or more corresponding power offsets at said base station, and sending a radio link reconfiguration ready message signal according to said control plane protocol from said base station to said serving radio network controller directly or via said drift radio network controller.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: sending from said serving radio network controller said radio link reconfiguration prepare message signal to said base station directly or via said drift radio network controller, and sending a radio resource control message signal from said serving radio network controller to said user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to said base station.
 10. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of: receiving a radio interface parameter update signal according to a user plane protocol directly from said serving radio network controller at said base station or via said drift radio resource control with changes to said one or more information elements, and changing one or more corresponding power offsets at said base station.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: sending from said serving radio network controller said radio interface parameter update signal directly to said base station or via said drift radio network controller, and sending a radio resource control message signal from said serving radio network controller to a user equipment indicative of said update signal sent to said base station.
 12. Apparatus, comprising: an application part of a base station of a radio access network, responsive to a control signal received via a drift radio network controller associated with said base station or directly from a serving radio network controller, said signal having one or more information elements indicative of one or more corresponding power offsets also sent to user equipment over a wireless interface for use by said user equipment in sending feedback information in a feedback signal over said radio interface to said base station at one or more power levels adjusted according to said one or more power offsets; and a memory in said base station for storing said one or more power offsets received from said serving radio network controller in said base station, said application part for sending from said base station a response signal to said serving radio network controller directly or via said drift radio network controller for indicating receipt of said one or more power offsets from said serving radio network controller, said one or more power offsets for use in detecting said feedback signal at said one or more power levels at said base station according to said one or more power offsets received from said serving radio network controller and saved in said memory.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said command signal includes a handover indication instead of said information elements and wherein said base station is configured to determine said one or more power offsets and for storing said one or more power offsets in said memory and for sending said response signal to said serving radio network controller indicating said one or more power offsets determined by said base station.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said serving radio network controller is for sending said power offsets in a radio resource controller message signal to said user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to or received from said base station.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said information elements include an information element indicative of power offset used in an uplink between a high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying hybrid automatic repeat request information and an associated dedicated physical control channel.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said hybrid automatic repeat request information is hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledge information.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein said information elements include an information element having a channel quality indicator indicative of power offset used in an uplink between high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying channel quality information and said associated dedicated physical control channel.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: said base station is responsive to a radio link reconfiguration prepare message signal according to a control plane protocol from said serving radio network controller directly or via said drift radio network controller with changes to said one or more information elements, for changing one or more corresponding power offsets at said base station, and for sending a radio link reconfiguration ready message signal according to said control plane protocol from said base station to said serving radio network controller directly or via said drift radio network controller.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said serving radio network controller is also for sending radio resource control message signal to said user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to said base station.
 20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a radio interface parameter update signal according to a user plane protocol is received from said serving radio network controller at said base station directly or via said drift radio network controller with changes to said one or more information elements, and, in response thereto, said base station changes one or more corresponding power offsets stored in said memory.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said serving radio network controller sends said radio interface parameter update signal to said base station directly or via said drift radio network controller, and also sends an radio resource control message signal to a user equipment indicative of said update signal sent to said base station.
 22. A computer program product for at least temporary storage in a computer readable medium for executing the steps of claim
 1. 